back button black v05

How Exergen helped Singulex detect single molecules in bodily fluids with their smallest Micro IRt/c sensor

How Exergen helped Singulex detect single molecules in bodily fluids with their smallest Micro IRt/c sensor

15 October 2018

Exergen Global: Singulex is a California-based company providing a unique technology that can detect single molecules in bodily fluids, such as blood or urine. This capability holds real promise for medical diagnostics, particularly when being used to detect biomarkers, measurable substances whose presence is often indicative of disease. Biomarkers are a very early indicator of disease, often the first, and many diseases have specific biomarkers associated with them.

They use immunoassay testing to detect biomarkers. The process is a biochemical test that measures the presence or absence of a small molecule in a solution by using an antibody or an antigen. Immunoassays rely on the ability of the antibody or antigen to recognize and bind to a specific macromolecule.

How Exergen Non Contact Sensors Helped Singulex Detect Biomarkers

The Singulex’ engineers realized they needed a temperature sensor to assure uniformity of temperature, in order to determine the concentration of biomarkers (if any) in each scanned sample. Without a thermal sensor, it would still be possible to know if a biomarker was present (by seeing if there is a light flash), but the concentration of the biomarker (corresponding to stage of disease) would be temperature sensitive and hence unreliable.
Exergen’s Micro IRt/c, a non contact sensor, is extremely small, unpowered, easy, fast and safe. There is no need for recalibration and maintenance. Having a high repeatability next to being extremely cost effective, is of course an additional big plus.

back button black v05